Published at 16th of September 2024 10:21 pm

Chapter 46 Hinata: The Blossoming Bonds Part 2

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Days turned into weeks, and the newfound relationship between Naruto and Hinata began to blossom. Despite Naruto's usual brashness, he was surprisingly gentle when it came to Hinata. The way he looked at her had shifted, and he found himself wanting to spend more time with her—whether it was training, eating ramen, or just sitting together on their favorite hilltop.

Hinata, on the other hand, was over the moon. Her once quiet admiration for Naruto had now blossomed into a real relationship, and though she still felt shy at times, she was slowly gaining confidence. Naruto’s warmth made her feel safe, and she cherished every moment they spent together.

One late afternoon, they sat together on the hill overlooking the village. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm glow over everything. Naruto, resting with his hands behind his head, glanced over at Hinata, who was seated beside him, hugging her knees and staring out into the distance.

“Hey, Hinata,” Naruto began, his tone thoughtful.

Hinata turned to him, her lavender eyes curious. “Y-yes, Naruto-kun?”

Naruto hesitated for a moment, then gave her a sheepish smile. “I was just thinking… I’m really glad we got to know each other better. I mean, I always liked you as a friend, but now…” He paused, searching for the right words. “Now, it feels different. I’m happy when I’m with you, you know?”

Hinata’s heart fluttered at his words. She nodded, feeling her cheeks grow warm. “I-I feel the same way, Naruto-kun. I’ve always admired you, and now… it feels like a dream come true.”

Naruto chuckled softly, sitting up and leaning closer to her. “Yeah, but you’ve always been there for me. I just didn’t realize it before.” He scratched the back of his head, a faint blush creeping onto his face. “I was too busy being a knucklehead.”

Hinata smiled, shaking her head. “N-no, Naruto-kun. You’ve always been amazing. I just… I was too shy to say anything before.”

Naruto gazed at her for a moment, his expression softening. He reached out, gently placing his hand over hers. “Well, I’m really glad you did. I don’t know what I’d do without you now, Hinata.”

Hinata’s breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. Naruto’s hand felt warm against hers, and she squeezed it gently, her eyes locking with his. In that moment, it felt like everything else in the world had disappeared—there was only the two of them, sitting together as the sun dipped below the horizon.

_______________________________________________________________

As the days passed, Naruto and Hinata’s relationship continued to grow, but it wasn’t without its challenges. Though they were happy together, Naruto’s usual life as a ninja was filled with missions, training, and the responsibilities that came with his dream of becoming Hokage.

One day, Naruto was called away on an important mission with Team 7. Hinata watched him leave from the gates of the village, her heart heavy with worry. She knew Naruto was strong, but she couldn’t help but feel anxious every time he left for a mission. The thought of him getting hurt—of something happening to him—made her chest tighten.

“Don’t worry, Hinata,” Naruto had said with his usual confidence before he left. “I’ll be back before you know it. Just keep believing in me, okay?”

Hinata had nodded, putting on a brave face, but the worry lingered long after he had disappeared from sight.

A few days later, as Hinata trained in one of the Hyuga clan’s private fields, her cousin Neji approached her. He had noticed the change in her demeanor over the past few weeks and had been watching her progress with interest.

“You’ve been training harder than usual, Hinata-sama,” Neji remarked, crossing his arms as he observed her.

Hinata paused, wiping sweat from her brow. She glanced at Neji, offering a small smile. “I’ve been trying to improve, Neji-niisan. I want to be strong enough to stand by Naruto-kun’s side.”

Neji raised an eyebrow. “Naruto?” he repeated, though he wasn’t entirely surprised. He had seen the way Hinata looked at Naruto for years. “Is this about your relationship with him?”

Hinata blushed, lowering her gaze. “Y-yes,” she admitted quietly. “Naruto-kun is always so strong and determined. I want to be able to support him, not just from the sidelines, but as his equal.”

Neji studied her for a moment before nodding. “You’ve grown a lot, Hinata-sama. Your resolve has strengthened. But remember, strength comes not just from physical training, but from the heart.” He paused, his gaze softening slightly. “Naruto has always had that kind of strength—and so do you.”

Hinata looked up at Neji, her eyes wide with surprise. His words meant a lot to her, especially coming from someone who had once doubted her abilities. She smiled gratefully. “Thank you, Neji-niisan. I’ll keep working hard.”

Neji nodded, turning to leave. “Just don’t push yourself too hard. Naruto wouldn’t want that.”

Hinata watched him go, her heart feeling lighter. Neji was right—Naruto wouldn’t want her to exhaust herself. But at the same time, she couldn’t help but want to become stronger for his sake. She would keep training, but she would also trust in her own strength.

_______________________________________________________________

A few more days passed, and soon, Naruto and Team 7 returned from their mission. Hinata waited anxiously at the village gates, her heart racing as she spotted the familiar group approaching in the distance. When Naruto finally appeared, grinning as usual, relief flooded through her.

“Naruto-kun!” she called, rushing to meet him.

Naruto turned at the sound of her voice, his grin widening. “Hinata!” he exclaimed, waving as she approached.

When they finally reached each other, Naruto didn’t hesitate to pull her into a tight hug. “I’m back!” he said cheerfully.

Hinata blushed, but she wrapped her arms around him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. “I-I’m so glad you’re safe, Naruto-kun,” she whispered, her voice trembling slightly with emotion.

Naruto pulled back, looking down at her with a soft smile. “Of course I’m safe! You know I’d never let anything happen to me. Besides, I had to come back to you, right?”

Hinata’s heart swelled at his words, and she couldn’t help but smile. “Yes… Thank you, Naruto-kun.”

They stood there for a moment, lost in each other’s presence, before Naruto finally pulled away, rubbing the back of his head. “Anyway, let’s go get some ramen! I’m starving after that mission.”

Hinata giggled softly. “Okay, Naruto-kun. Let’s go.”

_______________________________________________________________

As their relationship continued to grow, word of Naruto and Hinata’s budding romance began to spread throughout the village. While some people were surprised—after all, Naruto had always been chasing after Sakura—many were happy for them. Naruto, the once-lonely boy who had been scorned and ignored, had found someone who truly cared for him.

Even Sakura, who had been the object of Naruto’s affection for so long, couldn’t help but smile when she saw them together. One day, as Team 7 gathered for a training session, Sakura pulled Naruto aside.

“Hey, Naruto,” she said, her tone playful. “Looks like you and Hinata are getting pretty close, huh?”

Naruto blushed, scratching the back of his head. “Yeah, I guess we are,” he admitted sheepishly.

Sakura smirked, crossing her arms. “You’re really lucky, you know that? Hinata’s an amazing girl.”

Naruto grinned, nodding. “I know. She’s really special.”

Sakura’s expression softened, and she placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m happy for you, Naruto. You deserve this.”

Naruto blinked, surprised by her words. For so long, he had chased after Sakura, hoping to win her heart. But now, standing here with her, he realized something had changed. He still cared about Sakura, but it wasn’t the same as before. His heart belonged to Hinata now.

“Thanks, Sakura-chan,” Naruto said sincerely, his grin widening. “That means a lot.”

Sakura smiled back, giving him a playful nudge. “Just don’t mess it up, okay?”

Naruto laughed. “I won’t! Believe it!”

As Naruto rejoined Hinata after training, he felt a sense of peace settle over him. For the first time in his life, he felt like everything was falling into place. He had his friends, his dream of becoming Hokage, and now, he had Hinata by his side.

And as they walked through the village together, hand in hand, Naruto knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

End

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